Why in news?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official visit to Israel, marking his first trip there since his landmark 2017 visit (the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister after diplomatic ties were established). That visit elevated India-Israel relations into the open and strengthened bilateral cooperation.

However, the current visit takes place in a far more tense regional context, with concerns over a possible US-Iran conflict and a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Against this backdrop, the visit highlights the evolution of India-Israel ties and underscores their growing strategic significance.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Early Years: Recognition Without Full Ties
• India–Israel Relations After 2014
• A Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
• India’s Diplomatic Tightrope
• Conclusion

The Early Years: Recognition Without Full Ties

• India recognised the state of Israel soon after its creation in 1948.
• However, full diplomatic relations were delayed for over four decades due to political sensitivities and regional considerations.
  • In January 1992, during Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s visit to India, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao conveyed that diplomatic ties with Israel could strengthen India’s ability to influence the Palestinian cause.
  • Arafat publicly respected India’s sovereign decision, paving the way for a historic shift.
• India formally established diplomatic relations with Israel on January 29, 1992 — a move that marked a decisive turning point in bilateral relations.
• Growing Defence Cooperation
  • India had sourced Israeli weapons during the 1962 war with China, though engagement remained limited and episodic.
  • During the Kargil conflict, Israel swiftly supplied precision bombs from its emergency stockpiles to the Indian Air Force.
  • This timely support significantly strengthened defence ties.
• Political Engagement Deepens (2000–2003)
  • In 2000, India organised high-profile visits to Israel, including External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Home Minister L K Advani.
  • To address domestic political concerns, leaders across party lines — including Jyoti Basu and Najma Heptullah — also visited Israel.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to India in September 2003 further consolidated defence and security cooperation.
  • Later, the then External Affairs Minister S M Krishna visited Israel in 2012.
  • Public discussions focused on science and technology, agriculture, and commerce, while strategic defence ties were kept relatively low-profile.

India–Israel Relations After 2014

• After assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought India-Israel ties into the open.
• He met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York in September 2014 — the first such meeting in a decade — signalling renewed political engagement.
• High-Level Political Exchanges
  • Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Israel in 2014.
  • President Pranab Mukherjee made the first-ever Indian Presidential visit in 2015.
  • External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj followed in 2016.
  • Over the past decade, several Indian ministers and parliamentarians have also visited Israel.
• The 2017 Breakthrough Visit
  • PM Modi’s 2017 visit was historic not only as the first by an Indian Prime Minister but also because he skipped the customary stop in Palestine, signalling a more confident and independent diplomatic stance.
  • His current visit similarly focuses solely on Tel Aviv.
• Reciprocal Engagement
  • Prime Minister Netanyahu visited India in January 2018, reinforcing bilateral ties.
  • Since Netanyahu’s re-election, the two leaders have spoken at least 10 times in three years, reflecting sustained high-level engagement.
• Expanding Strategic and Economic Cooperation
  • India and Israel have deepened defence ties, evident during Operation Sindoor, and enhanced cooperation in cybersecurity, highlighted during the Pegasus disclosures.
  • In November 2025, both sides signed defence pacts and launched negotiations for a free trade agreement. Cooperation now spans sectors such as artificial intelligence, agriculture, and advanced technologies.

A Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

• Since PM Modi’s first visit in 2017, West Asia’s geopolitical dynamics have changed significantly.
• Israel and several Arab nations have moved toward normalisation under the Abraham Accords signed during Donald Trump’s first term.
• Gaza War and Fragile Ceasefire
  • The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 triggered a prolonged war in Gaza, resulting in massive casualties and destruction.
  • An uneasy truce now holds under a US-backed peace plan, with the key challenge being the disarmament of Hamas.
• Rising Iran Tensions
  • Tensions with Iran have intensified following a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025, during which the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities.
  • The US has since increased its military presence around Iran, further destabilising the region.

India’s Diplomatic Tightrope

• PM Modi’s visit comes amid regional turmoil, making it a sensitive diplomatic move. New Delhi must carefully balance costs and benefits.
• Importance of Israel for India
  • A crucial defence and security partner.
  • A key economic partner in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
  • A significant regional political player with expanding ties in West Asia.
• Regional Sensitivities
  • Iran and other regional nations are closely observing India’s growing proximity to Israel and assessing its implications for their own ties with New Delhi.
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing political pressure at home, is projecting the visit as a diplomatic success.

Conclusion

PM Modi’s Israel visit unfolds in a volatile regional environment and will be closely watched across West Asia. It reflects India’s effort to navigate complex geopolitical realities while safeguarding its strategic and economic interests.